Display case or tray



July 30, 1929. E, swims. 1,722,405

DISPLAY CASE OR TRAY Filed Afig. 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7 j I I a? l zl 0 1 a 0/ 0 do; i :0 gmvmtoz July 30, 1929. w s 1,722,405

DISPLAY CASE OR TRAY Filed Aug. 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 30, 1929.

UNI-TED STATES 'nnnnsr IB. wILKmsoF ,HELENALABKA-NSASJ DISPLAY (men on TRAY.

Application filed AugxistZl, 1928. Serial in. 301,023.

This invention relates to an improved type of display tray designed especially for use in stores, and has for its primary object to provide a structure in which the article carrying receptacle forms a movable top adapted to be used in horiozntal position or adjusted to an inclined position when necessary for the better display of articles contained therein.

Another object of the invention-is to pro- 1 vide a store fixture of the above described character wherein the article carrying tray may be inverted to provide a table, the bottom of the tray forming the table top.

A further object of the invention is to provide a display fixture for use in any place where material is to'be demonstrated, which will be of' strong and durableconstruction, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and set up.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration 'ofthe following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings formingpart of this specification with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is aperspective view of the tray supporting frame of the display device;

F igure, 2 is a transverse sectional view of the structure showing the tray in tilted positi'on; I,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the upper portion of a modified form of the fixture; v

Figure 4: is a perspective view of a modie fied form of the structure shown in Figures land 2, showing a slat tray substituted-for the walled tray;

' Figurefi is a transverse sectional View of the upper portion of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken upon the line 66 of Figure 5.

The display stand embodying the present invention comprises a number of upright supports or legs 1, 2, 3 and 4 arranged in vertical position to form a rectangle, the legs 1 and 4: and 2 and 3 making up two pairs, each pan being connected by a lower cross bar 5 which bars are in turn connected by a longitudinally extending base strip 6.

The upper ends of the legs are eachlcut awa-yupon the inner face to receive the ends of the end panels 7, which panels connect the ends of each pair of'legs as shown and connecting the legs '1 and 2 at thefront of the structure is an apron strip 8, the top edge of which is arranged adjacent to the lower edges of the end panels 7 as shown.

A back strip 9 of materially greater height than the panels 7 and apron 8, connects the rear legs and l, the lower edge of this strip being substantially in the same plane as the lower edges of the end panels 7 while the top edge extends a slight distance above the stop edges of the end panels.

Each of the end panels 7' has extending along the inner face thereof adjacent the lower edge, the tray supporting strip 10, the front ends of these strips being-beveled as at 11 to form the forwardly and downwardly incline'd supporting surface as shown, this sur- 7 thereof overlies and is flush with the front face of the apron'8. I a 1 v v When it-is' desired to position the tray 12 at an inclination for the better display of the contents thereof, the back of the tray is lifted and the entire traystructureis thenmoved backwardlyuntil the lower front edge drops on to the inclined forward ends of the supporting strips 10. The back of the tray will then be resting upon the top edge of the strip 9 while the front, resting'upon the inclined surfaces 11 of the strips 10 will bear against the rear top edge of the apron :8 as shown in Figure 2. 7 I v In addition to using the tray 12 as a recep tacle or'container for goods on display, it

tween the end panels 7, resting upon the strips 1O and the top edge of the apron 8, so that the bottom thereof lyingfiush withthe top edges of the end panels 7 may be employed as a table surface.

may be inverted and placed in position be.-

A ght modification of the structure j t Y describedis shown in Figure 3; In this form I the stand stru tureis substantially the same with the exc ption 'of the tray supporting strip. This strip is divided forming the rear and oppositely bevelled, the forward end of I part 13 and the forward part 14, the adjacent ends thereof being inspaced relation the portion 13 having the relatively long bevel 15 while the adj acent end of the portion 14 has the slight or sharp bevel 16. Inthis form also the front apron 17 instead of being 1 arranged with the top. edge thereof in the same plane as the top edge of the tray supporting strips, has its top edge in substantially the same plane asthetop edges of the end panels 18 so that the tray-19 when in horizontal position'is entirely inclosecl on its four sides. When it is desired to arrange the tray in an inclined position the rear is elevated and the entire structure moved backwardly until the forward lower edge of the tray drops between the opposed'ends of the strip sections 13 and 14 at which time the back part of the tray will bein position to be supported upon the back strip 20 of the stand structure. Owing to the inclination of the faces of the opposed ends of the portions 13 and 14: the tray will be against movement. v.

- From the foregoing'description, it will be readily seen that the herein described structure is of simple design but may be advantageously employed in various capacities for the display of merchandise as for example in groceries, drug stores, dry-goods stores and the like. 1

of. displaying vegetables securely held For the purpose and-like commodities which ordinarily carry moreor less dirt and sand such as kale, spinach, potatoes, etc., there is provided to be substituted for thetray structures12 and 15 a flat slat platform indicated as a whole-by the numeral 21. Thisplatform comprisesea se ries of spaced parallel slat-members 22connected across their ends by the cross cleats 23. "The cross cleats 23'aresecured to the slats 22 inwardly of the ends thereof so as to permit the platform to be placed within the upper portion of the frame structure in substitution for. the tray :12, the ends of the slats resting upon the strips 10 which normally support the tray 12 in the manner shown. I

It is obvious thatthe platformmay be arranged in the tilted position in whichthe tray 12.is shown in Figure, 2, if desired, the forward one'of the slats 22 positioning at its ends against the inclined end faces2111i0f the strips 10. I r Having described .my invention what I claim is:

1; An article of the charaeter described,

comprising a supporting structureincluding supporting legs, a frame carried by said legs comprising end panels, a front apron connecting the panels and a back strip connecting the panels, supporting strips carried by said end panels at the lower edges of the inner faces thereof, a tray arranged within the frame and supported upon said strips, and means for supporting said tray at an inclination upon the strips, said means comprising an inclined surface formed on each of said strips adjacent the frontend thereof, upon which surfaces the tray is designed to position with the back thereofrestingupon said back strip.

2. An article of the character described, comprising a supporting structure including supportinglegs, a frame carried by. said legs comprising end panels,.a front apron connectend panels and the back strip and having the forward lower edgev of the tray abutting is in an inclined position. I 3. In an article of the character described comprising a supporting structure consisting ofa frame havingend panels, aback strip against the rear facethereof when the tray connecting the panels, supporting strips carried by said end panels at thelower edges of the inner faces thereof, a tray adapted to be normally horizontally arranged within the frame and supported'upon said strips means for supporting said tray at an inclination upon said strips comprising an inclined surface formed on each of said strips adjacent the front end thereof upon which surface the trayis designed to position with theback thereof resting upon said back strip, and an abutment adjacent the inclined surface of said tray supporting strips, against which the forward lower edgeof the-tray maybear when the tray is in inclined position.

signature. V

' ERNEsTfB. wiL n s,

I. r In testimony whereof Iv hereunto'aflix my 

